Children's Miracle Network: Isaac Peters

Isaac (second from left) and his siblings.

(Toledo News Now) -

It's one of the worst
sentences any parent can hear: Your child is very sick.

Those very words had to be
said to the Peters family from Alveda, OH. It's been a long journey, but along
the way the Children's Miracle Network has been there for little Isaac Peters
and so many other patients and their families.

When we visited Isaac
recently at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, we could tell he was in
a place no child should have to be, getting a procedure no kid should have to
have. It was the day for his spinal tap testing.

Isaac's mother Jennifer
Peters remembered when she saw something wrong with her son.

"I noticed that he had
real pale color and dark circles under his eyes," she recalled, looking
back about a year-and-a-half ago.

"I remember thinking at
the time that he looked like those children in the St. Jude's
commercials. He kind of had that yellowish color to him," Jennifer
told us.

To attack the Leukemia, it's
been a constant flow of tests, treatments and trips to St. V's. The
schedule affects Isaac and his whole family. Jennifer and Kevin have three
other children Grace, Jonah, and the new arrival Levi, who's just months old.

"[Cancer] changes
everything," said Isaac's oncologist Dr. Rama Jasty. "It changes
whether you go to work or not. It changes who is going to take care of the rest
of the kids. It changes how many days you spend in the hospital."

Because of the sudden impact
cancer has on a family and patient, the Children's Miracle Network steps in to
help in their darkest of days, providing a crucial ray of hope and some fun
with toys, games, books.

"When we were first
diagnosed, Isaac was not able to leave his room. So, the playroom came to
us," Jennifer told us. "At that point, Isaac was two-and-a-half years
old and he liked playing in water. So, they would bring a tub and we would
splash and play all day."

"It gives him something
to do," said Kevin. "Compared to just laying in the bed all the
time and not having (anything) to do."

The Children's Miracle
Network makes sure kids of all ages, young like Isaac and older teens, have
that break from all of the medical procedures. A break that they need and
deserve.

"It's a great benefit
because children are here 24 hours a day, sometimes several days in a row,
sometimes several weeks in a row. And so, they need that
distraction," Jennifer explained. "And even when they're not
feeling that well, they still need something to do...something to pass their
time."

And it's a chance to know
the young patients are not alone. Others just like them and their families
have to deal with cancer and all of its consequences.

"You meet a lot of
other families there and they might be going through the very same thing,"
Jennifer described. "And it's a good social outlet for children who
may otherwise be in their rooms."

In addition to the playroom,
Children's Miracle Network gives families like the Peters a chance to get away
from the hospital, too.

"We see that Children's
Miracle Network actually helps do some of the fun activities," said Dr.
Jasty. "At least two to three times a year, we do different types of
activities with the families. Whether it's a baseball game or a
get-together at the zoo, whatever it is...whether it is a Christmas party. All
these little things, not just help getting through the day, but the fun (activities
bring) the families together so the families get to know each other, make
friendships and make the bonds. And, of course, the kids have lots of fun."

Isaac's prognosis is
good. The medical staff said he has a great chance at beating this
cancer. And even though he's only three-and-a-half years old, it's the way
he's fighting that has mom and dad so proud.

"Just how he's handled
everything and just how he seems to be so mature and confident and secure in
what he's doing," said Jennifer.

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